Packaging machine



M y 1940- w. s. REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE ori inai Filed Aug. 7, 1955 5 Sheets-$heet 1 Mm i1 3. t: mm. 2 mi 5 wf a WAQ r 1 m 3 E W2 e mi hr R Pm.

NY i I; I S pm A P INVENTOR. WARREN S. REYNOLDS ATTORNEY.

y 1940- w. s. REYNOLDS 2,202,600

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 7', 1955 5 sh t -sh t 2 INVENTOR. I WARREN S. REYNOLDS i A TTORNEY.

May 28, 1940.

w. s. REYNOLDS 2,202,609

PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 7, 1935 FIG. 3

v INVENTOR. WARREN S. REYNOLDS ATYURNEY.

May 28, 1940. w.-s. REYNOLDS PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 7, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WARREN S. REYNOLDS A TTORNEY.

Original Filed Aug. 7, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

WARREN S. REYNOLDS A TTORNE Y.

Patented May 28, 1940 PACKAGING MACHINE her 26, 1939.

Divided and this application April 1, 1938, Serial N0. 199,340

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for arranging small articles in a symmetrical row in alternately reversed positions, preparatory to packing them into containers. The machine will U be described with reference to the arranging of shot shells, but it will be imderstood that its utility is not limited to this particular field.

The present application is a division of my prior copending application Serial No. 35.028, filed August 7, 1935, now Patent No. 2,173,360, granted September 26, 1939.

The specific object of the invention will appear from the following descriptionof the purpose and M accomplishments of the machine. it being understood that the several parts of the complete mall?) mouth of adjacent shells. The present machine provides means for receiving shells in an upright position from the loading machine. arranging them in a row in which the mouth. of each shell is opposite the heads of adjacent shells. and delivering the shells thus arranged to an inspection table from which they may be removed into containers in the manner described in the parent application.

A representative embodiment of mechanism for accomplishing the reverse positioning of successive shells is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine.

: Fig. 2 is a plan view of the part of the machine including the carrier for receiving shells from the loading machine, the shell reversing mechanism,

and the driving mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the mechanism shown at the left end of Fig. 1 looking toward the right.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation substantially on the line A-t of Fig. 2. the shell reversing bar being shown as moving to the right.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4: but the shell reversing bar moving to the left.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, substantially on the line ii-li of Fig. 2, the shell pusher being in retracted position.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, the shell pusher being advanced.

The machine is preferably mounted on a bench or table 20. Power for the moving parts is secured from a motor 2| which, through a belt 22 and pulley 23, drives a shaft 2t. The bearing of shaft 24 is in a casting 25 which supports all parts of the shell receiving and reversing mechanism. Shells are received from the shell loading machine through a trackway identified generally by the numeral 26, said trackway comprising a suitable support such as rods 26S and side bars 2'! and 28 so spaced from the support as to furnish a channel for receiving shell heads and thus supporting the shells in an upright position, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The trackway 226 communicates with a second trackway, substantially at a right angle to trackway 25, extending transversely of the machine and formed in the casting 25. A belt 29 passing over a pulley SE? in an arm 3|, of casting 25 and a second pulley on the shaft 24 furnishes a means for moving the shells delivered from the trackway 25. For movement onto the belt 29 the shells are guided between an angle plate 32 secured to the casting 25 and a second upright plate 33 pivoted to the casting 25 at 3 5 and urged inwardly by a suitable spring, such as 35. The free end of plate is curved inwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to direct shells onto the belt 29. When the movement of shells onto belt 29 is obstructed, as shown Fig.

2, the plate 33 is swung about its pivot by the L shells advancing through the tracliway 2B and the shells move across the belt 29, the belt sliding under them, and are directed into an outlet chute 36 by the turned end 37 of a guide plate 93'? secured to casting 25 opposite the leg of angle plate :1.

32 which extends parallel to the bolt Suitable undercut blocks 39 and 49 secured to the casting 25 furnish a channel for receiving the flanged shell heads, thus holding the shells in an upright position as they are carried along by the belt 29.

The shells are moved transversely oif from the belt 29 into a reversing chamber identified generally by numeral ll by means of a pusher being aligned with the pusher by enga e ut 1 49 pivoted at 50 in the casting 25 and actuated through a roller thereon by a cam 52 on the drive shaft 24. Said cam 52 comprises two lever operating lobes so that the pusher 42 is reciprocated twice, delivering two shells to the reversing chamber 4|, during each revolution of the shaft 24. In the reversing chamber the two shells thus delivered are placed in a horizontal position, each being reversed with respect to the preceding one, so that the head of each lies opposite the mouths of those adjacent on either side. The mechanism for this purpose may be constructed as follows:

A shell reversing bar 53 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5), suitably supported and guided for rectilinear movement in the casting 25, is reciprocated by a box cam 54 on the drive shaft 24. Said cam may conveniently be formed in the pulley 23 by which the shaft 24 is driven. The member connecting the reversing bar 53 with the box cam 54 is identified by the numeral 55 and comprises a laterally extending roller 55 received in the track of the box cam. Member 55 comprises a base block 55| channeled to receive the reversing bar 53 and a cover plate 552 connected to the channel base by suitable means such as screws 553. The dimensions of the channel in the base 55! are such that when the cover is in place the bar 53 slides loosely therein. The cover plate 552 is extended upwardly to form a housing for a friction clutch device comprising a clutch member 554 pressed into engagement with the upper surface of re versing bar 53 by a spring 556. The opposite end of spring 556 abuts a shouldered pilot member 551, the position of which is determined by a tension adjusting screw 558 threaded into the top of the member 552 and held in adjusted position by a lock nut 559. Thus, the connection between the member 55 and the reversing bar 53 is sufficiently rigid to enable said bar to operate on shells in the manner to be described but will slip in the event that a shell becomes jammed and offers excessive resistance to the movement of the bar 53. This is of importance since the application of a crushing force to the shells might result in an explosion.

When the connecting member 55 has thus been displaced upon the bar 53 it is necessary that it be automatically restored to its initial position in order to reciprocate the bar 53 in proper synchronism with the movements of the pusher heretofore described. For this purpose, studs 560 (Fig. 5) and 56l (Fig. 2) extend downwardly from the reversing bar 53 near its ends. Normally these studs just clear the adjacent parts of the frame casting at the ends of the reciprocating movements of bar 53. Should a shell become jammed, for example in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, with the reversing bar moving to the right, the connection member 55 will slide along the bar 53 toward the right. When member 55 reaches the limit of its movement in this direction and starts its reverse movement, it will carry the bar 53 along with it until the stud 560 engages the adjacent surface 562 on the frame casting; thereupon the movement of bar 53 is stopped, and the connecting member again slides on this bar until it assumes its normal position thereon. The reciprocating bar thereafter functions in normal manner without thenecessity for any manual readjustment.

The box cam is arranged to reciprocate the reversing bar 53 once during each revolution of the shaft 24, while .the pusher 42, as heretofore shown, delivers two shells during each revolution of the shaft 24. Said shells are moved by pusher 42 from belt 29 onto the reversing bar 53; thus,

when one shell is delivered the pusher will be moving in one direction, say to the right, and when the next shell is delivered it will be moving in the opposite direction. The part of the reversing bar 53 which reciprocates within the reversing chamber 4| is provided with a shell head receiving notch 51. By the engagement of shell heads in this notch successive shells are reversely turned and drop into horizontal position with the head of each turned in the direction of the mouths of both the preceding and. the following shells.

The shells thus arranged are delivered from the reversing chamber in a horizontal position through a suitable opening 58 in the back of said chamber, each shell being pushed out as another is advanced into the chamber. A weighted gate 59 pivoted to the chamber at 6B prevents the premature delivery of the shells and serves to hold them as delivered in a position transverse to the short delivery chute 6|. Normally the shells thus delivered drop through a gap 6| I in the floor of chute 6| onto an inspection table 62. If the inspection table is full, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the last shell thereon partly bridges the gap 6| I, and additional shells delivered from the reversing chamber are pushed across the gap 6 and delivered through an overflow chute 63,

which is preferably turned laterally, as shown in Fig. 2, so that overflow through both chute 63 and chute 36 is directed into the same receptacle. The weighted gate 59 prevents shells in the chute 6| rolling back into the reversing chamber.

The inspection table 62, which is preferably inclined as illustrated in Fig. 1, is of a width slightly greater than the length of a shot shell and comprises low front and rear guides 64 and 65. Along the back of the inspection table adjacent the guide 55 is a mirror 66 by which the operator at the front of the machine is enabled to fully inspect the row of shells on the table.

The representative forms of the inventions herein described are to be understood as typical and illustrative only, said inventions being susceptible to embodiment in many other forms, all falling within the scope of the appended claims, which are to be broadly construed.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, means for receiving in identical positions a plurality of elongated articles each having a widened end portion and means comprising a reciprocating element frictionally engaging said articles and reversing the position of successive ones of the articles received, thereby arranging the articles with the widened end of each article opposite the small end. of adjacent articles.

2. In combination, means for receiving in a vertical position a plurality of elongated articles each having a widened end portion and means comprising a reciprocating element frictionally engaging and moving said articles for reversely turning successive articles into a horizontal position, thereby arranging the articles with the widened end of each article opposite the small end of adjacent articles.

3. In a machine for arranging for packaging articles each having a widened end portion, a conveyer, means for directing the articles onto said conveyer, means for holding the articles in identical positions as they are moved by the conveyer, a stationary reversing chamber, means for shifting articles one at a time from the conveyer to the reversing chamber, and means comprising an element movable relative to said stationary reversing chamber for reversely turning successive articles delivered to said chamber, thereby arranging the articles with the widened end of each article opposite the small end of adjacent articles.

4. A machine for the packaging of articles each having a widened end portion comprising a conveyer, means for directing the articles onto the conveyer, means for holding the articles in identical positions as they are moved by the conveyer, a reversing chamber, means for shifting articles one at a time from the conveyer to the reversing chamber, and means comprising a reciprocating reversing bar for reversely turning successive articles delivered to said chamber, thereby arranging the articles with the widened end of each article opposite the small end of adjacent articles.

5. A machine for the packaging of articles each having a widened end portion comprising a conveyor, means for directing the articles onto the conveyer, means for holding the articles in identical positions as they are moved by the conveyer, a reversing chamber, means for shifting articles one at a time from the conveyer to the reversing chamber, means comprising a reciprocating reversing bar for reversely turning successive articles delivered to said chamber. and means for moving said shifting means and said reversing bar in synchronism.

6. A machine for the arranging of articles each having a widened end portion comprising a reversing chamber, means for shifting articles one at a time into said reversing chamber, a reciprocating reversing bar moving within said reversing chamber, and synchronized driving means for said shifting means and said reversing bar arranged to actuate said shifting means once for each half reciprocation of said reversing bar.

'7. A machine for arranging articles in a symmetrical series comprising a belt conveyer, means associated with said conveyer for retaining articles thereon in identical positions, a stop for arresting the movement of articles on said conveyor, a reversing bar, a pusher for shifting the article on said conveyer and in contact with said stop onto said reversing bar, and means for driving said pusher and reversing bar in synchronism.

8. Apparatus for arranging articles in an alternating position series comprising a reciprocating bar, and means for delivering an article to said bar during each half reciprocation thereof, said bar comprising means adapted to turn the article thereon in a direction determined by the direction of movement of said bar.

9. Apparatus for arranging articles in an alternating position series comprising a reciprocating bar, means for delivering an article to said bar during each half reciprocation thereof, said bar comprising means adapted to turn the article thereon in a direction determined by the direction of movement of said bar, driving means, and a connection from said driving means to said bar which enables the driving means to move independently when movement of the reciprocating bar is obstructed.

10. Apparatus for arranging articles in an alternating position series comprising a reciprocating bar, means for delivering an article to said bar during each half reciprocation thereof, said bar comprising means adapted to turn the article thereon in a direction determined by the direction of movement of said bar, driving means, a connection from said driving means to said bar which enables the driving means to move independently when movement of the reciprocating bar is obstructed, and means for subsequently restoring said reciprocating bar to proper position relative to said driving means.

11. Apparatus for the arranging of articles in an alternating series comprising a reversing bar, means for delivering articles to said reversing bar, driving means for said reversing bar comprising a cam, a cam follower, a connector moving with said cam follower and comprising an aperture adapted to receive said bar, and a friction device for driving engagement with said bar.

12. Apparatus for arranging articles in alternating series comprising a reversing chamber, means for delivering articles one at a time to said chamber and ejecting an article already in the chamber as an incident to such delivery, and means for preventing the return of articles thus ejected comprising a self-closing gate opened by the ejection of an article from the chamber.

13. Apparatus for arranging articles in an alternating series on a table comprising a reversing chamber, means for delivering articles one at a time to said chamber, means associated with said chamber for reversely turning successive articles entering said chamber, an exit opening in said chamber, an article receiving shelf adjacent said exit opening, said shelf comprising an aperture, and a table beneath and adapted to receive articles passing through said aperture.

14. Apparatus for arranging articles in an alternating series on a table comprising a reversing chamber, means for delivering articles one at a time to said chamber, means associated with said chamber for reversely turning successive articles entering said chamber, an exit opening in said chamber, an article receiving shelf adjacent said exit opening, said shelf comprising an aperture, a table beneath and adapted to receive articles passing through said aperture, and means associated with said shelf for receiving said articles when the space on said table beneath said aperture is occupied.

15. Apparatus for arranging articles in an alternating series on a table comprising a reversing chamber, means for delivering articles one at a time to said chamber, means associated with said chamber for reversely turning successive articles entering said chamber, an exit opening in said chamber, an article receiving shelf adjacent said exit opening, said shelf comprising an aperture, a self-closing gate associated with said exit opening and adapted to prevent the return of articles from said shelf to said reversing chamber, and a table beneath and adapted to receive articles passing through said aperture.

WARREN S. REYNOLDS. 

